Meet your new This Morning presenters, Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard
WORDS: ARIANA LONGSON. PHOTOS: KEN MCKAY/ITV/SHUTTERSTOCK
Ahead of taking their seats on the coveted This Morning sofa, in their first joint interview, Cat Deeley, 47, and Ben Shephard, 49, discuss their dream guests, working together and what it means to be part of the ITV show. Plus, Ben opens up about how it feels to be leaving ‘TV wife’ Kate Garraway.
What does This Morning mean to you?
Ben:This Morning is the programme I grew up watching when Richard and Judy used to host it – two icons on the daytime sofa. I first got to host the show with the lovely Fern Britton. I was a last-minute call-up and I remember sitting on the bus on the way home, daydreaming about the fact I’d just hosted it and what a moment that was for me. Now, here I am 20 years later and I’m going to be doing it every day. That means a lot.
What are you both most looking forward to about presenting the show?
Ben: Not having to get up so early and to be able to have a lie-in is quite high up there. But seriously, it has to be the people – from the team to the guests to, of course, Cat. I’ve worked with many of the team on and off, but to work with them full-time is very exciting.
Cat:This Morning is a national institution. Whenever it’s on it’s like having your friends over: it’s funny, smart, silly, heartfelt, informative and joyful. I can’t wait to be a part of the team, from the crew and producers, to the brilliant presenters. I’ve been hosting solo for the past few years and I’ve really missed that sense of camaraderie. It’ll be great to be a part of such an incredible team.
How excited are you to join the This Morning family?
Ben:This Morning is my dream combination of a lie-in, eating cheesecakes and working with a fantastic team! I’m really excited, I’ve loved the show for years and it feels a real privilege to be there Monday to Thursday.
I adore Alison Hammond and I’ve worked with her on many occasions when we’ve been on This Morning together. I started my TV career many years ago with Dermot O’Leary on Channel 4, so it’s lovely that we’re both back all these years later – albeit as dads with a little less hair and more wrinkles!
Cat: Nothing sets you up for the weekend quite like Alison and Dermot! I’m the dynamic duo’s biggest fan!
Ben, how does it feel to be leaving GMB?
I’ve loved hosting Good Morning Britain over the past 10 years since it launched and I’m grateful that my extended GMB fam
